Prime Minister of Vietnam

The prime ministerof Vietnam (Vietnamese: Thủ tướng Chính phủ, lit.'government premier') is the head of government of Vietnam who presides over the meetings of the Government (formerly the Council of Ministers). The prime minister directs the work of government members, and may propose deputy prime ministers to the National Assembly.

The head of government is responsible to the National Assembly and serves as the vice chairperson of the Council for Defence and Security. Prime minister is also the chairman of the Council for National Education, Standing Member of the Central Military Commission and the Central Police Party Committee. The tenure of a prime minister is five years, and the term is renewable once. In case of incapacity, a deputy prime minister assumes the office of acting prime minister until the prime minister resumes duty, or until the appointment of a new prime minister.

The powers and prestige of the prime minister have varied through the years. Phạm Văn Đồng, unified Vietnam's first prime minister, sometimes lamented that in practice he had little power. Since the death of Phạm Hùng in 1988, the prime minister has been ranked third in the order of precedence of the Communist Party's Politburo, the highest decision-making body in Vietnam, and is now having a major practical influence as the direct head of the executive government.